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[kissmekitten]

We are trying to decided by which means we should travel on our world trip. Either going by car - driving around to all the countries (via cargo boat when needed) or go by backpack.

We are planning to start in N. America and going to these continents in the following order S. America, Africa, India, almost all of Asia (Thailand, Honk Kong, China, Japan, etc.), Indonesia, Pacific Islands, and lastly Australia.

Any comments, suggestions, or experiences would be great! Thanks!

[Guest_Keith]

I´m currently travelling Central and South America by bus. If I did it again I would definately get a car, probably starting in the states or Mexico.

I have met several people doing it and you get to see so much more. Even met a guy who is travelling from Canada to Costa Rica in a School Bus, he plans to sell it in Costa for twice the price he paid in the states, which will all but pay for his trip!

If you buy something, make sure it has 4WD and preferably get a Jap model, Toyota etc, they are very reliable, much easier to get repaired and easy to sell if you need too. I would go for a Toyoya 2+2 Pickup or similar, lots of room, you can sleep in the back if need be, and give other travellers lifts

I know it costs about $800 US to ship a car from Panama to Ecuador or Colombia if you want to go that route.

I´m probably going to buy something in Ecuador for the second part of my trip to Argentina.

Good Luck
Keith

[katieontherun]

Hi,

I think it depends on the amount of time you're traveling altogether, and in each individual country as well, and also on the number of countries you're visiting. It might pay off to buy a car in a country you're going to stay for a while and then to sell it again. I bought and sold a car for right around the same price in New Zealand and I drove the car for 6 months. Other countries I visited, such as Fiji, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, laos, I was damn glad I didn't have my own vehicle. Maintenance might cost you a lot as roads are pretty bad in some parts and driving can be hell. Honestly, since you are traveling round the world, I wouldn't bring a car along but buy one or rent one (buying in NZ proved to be MUCH cheaper) if you need to.

[technotrekker]

There are a lot of places I'd think twice about driving around - traffic and road rules seem to be based on a Mad Max movie and foreigners in cars is like waving a red rag at a bull for the police! Then there is the cost of shipping and the waiting times when you get there a month faster than the car. Yikes!

Still, if driving it has been your vision and you're not too set on times or strict budgets, it might actually be a safer way to go (than leaving your life in the hands of bus drivers). Would certainly be an interesting way of doing it.

Good luck whichever way you go...

TT

[Jessica_CDN]

Wow - this forum is exactly what I've been looking for. I'm trying to decide whether or not to sell my car ('97 Camry!) before I go on my trip. I'm planning on doing Mexico and then heading south for about a year, seeing as much of central and south america as I possibly can. I'm thinking about driving just because it seems like an interesting way to do it....but then would I miss out on meeting people on the transport system??

I don't know..I'm very torn!!

[Barrett]

Aie Carumba!

Have to say I have never been to S. Am. but I don't think I would even consider driving a car there. Why?

1. Road accidents kill the most foreigners in just about every country in the world. Its better to be in a bus than a car if a cattle truck hits you. Also, less likely the cattle truck will force the bus over a cliff.

2. Parking. Nightmare in every big city in the world.

3. Worry. You won't want to have to worry about your car when in Lima, Rio, or while you are hiking to Machu Picchu. In fact, my good friend Scott who did S. Am. on his own only took a pack small enough that he could wear if EVERYWHERE and he was never robbed. Your car would likely be broken into in every single big city you went to. And then stolen.

4. Lack of local contact and perhaps even more important in fighting the loneliness of RTW trip on your own, lack of contact with other backpackers.

5. Limits where you can go. Unless you are planning to drive a Hummer down there. The roads aren't exactly the 401 or so I've heard.

Hope you feel less torn

[Jessica_CDN]

Thanks for the advice Barrett, and not even a jibe at my driving skills!

I guess what I'm thinking is that it would be great to get to some really "off-the-beaten track" places that would be very inconvenient to get to via bus or local transport, or even impossible. But I'm also not thrilled at the prospect of getting my car broken into all the time - it would be just so inconvenient!

[Incrediblelife]

Thanks for the advice Barrett, and not even a jibe at my driving skills!

I guess what I'm thinking is that it would be great to get to some really "off-the-beaten track" places that would be very inconvenient to get to via bus or local transport, or even impossible. But I'm also not thrilled at the prospect of getting my car broken into all the time - it would be just so inconvenient!

Hey Jessica!

When do you plan on doing this trip? My fiance John and I are thinking of doing the exact same thing! Well, he's a lot more keen to drive than I am... I'm also kind of worried. But we are planning on leaving Calgary about mid-Nov and taking 6 months going through Mexico, Central America, South America. Sometimes there's power in numbers...

Jenn

[KITANA]

I´m currently travelling Central and South America by bus. If I did it again I would definately get a car, probably starting in the states or Mexico.

I have met several people doing it and you get to see so much more. Even met a guy who is travelling from Canada to Costa Rica in a School Bus, he plans to sell it in Costa for twice the price he paid in the states, which will all but pay for his trip!

If you buy something, make sure it has 4WD and preferably get a Jap model, Toyota etc, they are very reliable, much easier to get repaired and easy to sell if you need too. I would go for a Toyoya 2+2 Pickup or similar, lots of room, you can sleep in the back if need be, and give other travellers lifts

I know it costs about $800 US to ship a car from Panama to Ecuador or Colombia if you want to go that route.

I´m probably going to buy something in Ecuador for the second part of my trip to Argentina.

Good Luck
Keith